The Mellotron Group

FRANK'S HINT OF THE YEAR
 
I have found that platen cleaner and rejuvenator is the best way to go. It  
really works great and won't destroy the rubber. You put it on for about 45  
seconds to a minute, then wipe it off, the rubber will be magically transformed. 
 I'd tell you what brand to use and where to get it but that would require  
getting up and walking downstairs. I'm planning on going downstairs tomorrow, 
so  I'll post it them then unless I forget.
 
Incidentally... there is no way to loosen sticky rollers permanently except  
this way:
 
The roller and axle must be carefully extracted from the key spring. The  
axle should be cleaned with a Dremel tool and a tiny wire wheel. If your  rollers 
stick, the axles likely have rust and corrosion as well as gummy  crap on 
them. 
 
Then, you need to carefully clean out the inside of the hub where the axle  
passes through. Remove all grime and oil. Push the axle back into the hub and  
hold the ends between two fingers and see if the roller spins freely,  if not 
clean some more and check for little burrs. Also, examine the axle under  a 
magnifier. Sometimes, when the axle ends are peened, they spread a bit near  the 
ends. If that is the case, you'll need some real patience to solve that  
problem. I don't have the patience to explain how right now.
 
Once each roller spins freely, replace it in its key spring and peen  the 
ends... gently. Be careful not to bend everything out of shape. If you do  this 
right, your rollers will spin like skateboard wheels. Never oil them  again... 
ever.
 
If this is to much trouble, then just do it the wrong way and worry about  it 
next month. You can soak them in alcohol and spin them for a week and  that 
won't solve the problem. They may loosen for a time, but they'll gum up  again. 
You can also send them to me and I'll do it... for a price.
 
Stay tuned next year for another hint.
 
Frank



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